Adding Images & Text | Cinemagraph Pro for macOS

Learn how to navigate overlay mode and edit image and text objects in Cinemagraph Pro for macOS

Written by Vikki Dziuma Updated over a week ago

The new overlay mode in Cinemagraph Pro for macOS allows you to add images and text on top of your cinemagraphs. This feature is ideal for incorporating branding and creative effects, and eliminates the need to tediously mask around an imported still image like in previous versions. In this tutorial, you will learn how to navigate overlay mode and edit image and text objects in Cinemagraph Pro for macOS.

Navigating Overlay Mode

Click on the Overlay button in the Cinemagraph Pro toolbar to enter overlay mode. Anytime you want to return to the main editor, simply click on the Done buttonin the overlay toolbar.

Inserting and editing objects will take place in the overlay toolbar, inspector (right sidebar), object list (left sidebar, located under the list icon), and canvas.

To add an image or text object, click on the Insert Image and Insert Text buttons in the toolbar. You can also insert images by dragging or pasting them on the canvas.

To edit an object, you must click to select it on the canvas or in the object list. If you want to move, arrange, or delete multiple objects, command-click on each object on the canvas or in the object list. You can also drag to select multiple objects on the canvas.

POSITIONDrag an object on the canvas to position it on your cinemagraph. By slowly dragging objects on the canvas, you can snap to the center, edge, and corner alignment guides. Hold the command key on your keyboard while dragging if you want to disable snapping.

Pro Tip: You can also position an object on the canvas using the arrow keys on the canvas or by entering the x and y coordinates measured in pixels in the inspector.

SIZEDrag the grabbers around an object inwards and outwards to resize it on the canvas. By default, the scale of images will be preserved. If you do not want to preserve the image's original scale, uncheck Preserve aspect ratio.

Pro Tip: You can also resize an object by entering the center height and width measured in pixels in the inspector.

ROTATE & FLIPCommand-click and drag the grabbers around an object clockwise or counterclockwise to rotate it on the canvas. If you want to snap 45º increments while rotating, hold down the shift key on your keyboard. Click on the flip vertical and horizontal icons in the inspector to flip an object on the corresponding axis.

Pro Tip: You can also enter the angle or use the dial or steppers to rotate an object in the inspector.

OPACITY & ADJUSTMENTSMove the slider on the inspector to adjust the opacity of an object. By default, any adjustments made in the main editor will not be applied. If you do want adjustments made in the main editor to be applied to an object, check Apply adjustments in the inspector.

ARRANGEIf you insert an image or text object that will overlap with another overlay, you may have to arrange the stack order to ensure objects appear in the correct order on your cinemagraph. Control-click on an object on the canvas to reveal Z-order commands: Bring to Front, Bring Forwards, Send to Back, Send Backwards.

Pro Tip: You can also arrange the stack order by dragging objects up (forwards) or down (backwards) in the object list or using the toolbar buttons.

TEXTChoose the font, style, size, color, and alignment for text objects in the inspector.

Pro Tip: If you want to specify the hex code for the font color, click on the slider tab in the color editor and select RGB Sliders in the dropdown menu.

OTHER

Toggle visibility for an object in the object list if you want to hide overlays or export multiple variations of your cinemagraph

Double-click on an object in the object list to rename it

Click on the Delete button in the toolbar or press the delete key on your keyboard to delete objects

Use the keyboard shortcut Command-Z or go to Edit > Undo to undo an edit

Use the keyboard shortcut Shift-Command-Z to or go to Edit > Redo to redo an edit

Note: Overlay mode is available in Cinemagraph Pro for macOS 2.7 and requires macOS Sierra 10.12.2 or later. If you are using an earlier version of iOS, lean how to update the software on your Mac.